Page 69

CONAN

T he door slams behind Finn as he walks into the bar of Inferno. He completely ignores me and Declan and heads straight for the counter.

“What’s up his ass?” Declan asks.

“No clue.”

We both keep quiet as Finn pulls out a chair at our table and sits, proceeding to down his whiskey in one long gulp.

“Hallie quit,” he tells me matter-of-factly.

“W-what?”

“You gone deaf, Conan?”

“No. But…what?”

I’m trying to process this. She loves her job. It’s her calling. For her to quit means I fucked up worse than I thought.

He glares at me and pulls out his cigarettes.

“My best nurse, who I’ve been mentoring for two years, just handed in her resignation and couldn’t even look me in the eye. There. Explained better for you?”

I recline back in my chair, tipping my head toward the ceiling.

Fuck.

She’s refusing the prize money. Quit her job. I can’t let her throw her life away because of me.

“Oh. I’ve got these for you too.” He rifles around in his pocket and tosses keys at me.

“It’s been left in the parking lot at the hospital. Come collect it.”

I stare down at the silver heart in my palm, and sadness washes over me.

“I don’t know what to do,” I mutter.

“Have you tried a heartfelt apology?” Declan suggests calmly.

“She won’t see me.”

Declan tuts and pours me a whiskey.

“Don’t wait for her to see you. You fucking show her,” he tells me.

He has a point. I’ve let Lily bat me away for days. I do believe Hallie was right, and that little blonde woman is definitely a mafia princess. She’s downright scary.

I’m glad Hallie has her.

“I can’t call or text because I’m blocked. I can’t get through her front door because of Lily. So the next option is…” I trail off to think.

“I barge my way into the house and make her listen?”

That doesn’t even sound right out loud.

Declan nearly spits out his drink. “Fuck. No, little brother.”

“Just go home and think. She wants space? How can you give that to her yet also show her you really care? Make her soften her hatred enough to at least allow you close enough to speak to her.”

I blink at him.

“Thanks for the riddle. I’ll see what I can come up with.”

Declan smiles.

“You have the facilities to pull off anything you can imagine. Remember that.”

I stand up and finish the rest of my drink.

“That’s my night sorted. I’ll be up bright and early for our meeting tomorrow.”

Finn just stares off into space, and I leave him to it. I know better than to wind him up when he’s pissed off.

“Or you could leave her alone and just stick to fucking the women in Inferno?” Finn says casually.

“Fuck no. Thanks.”

Yes, Inferno may be the most sought-after and elite sex club, right inside our chocolate factory, but there isn’t a single woman in this club who would catch my eye now.

Fuck, if I can’t have Hallie, I don’t want anyone. I might never get my dick wet again.

The first thing I do on my walk back to my cabin is search for local florists, dialing the first one.

“Hi. Floral Delight. How can I help?” A very chirpy woman greets me.

“Uh. Hi. I was wondering if you could help me with an ongoing mission of mine.”

There’s a slight pause.

“Sure. What do you need?”

A smile creeps up my lips.

“A delivery of flowers, I don’t care how much they cost, every single day to the same address until I tell you to stop.”

Now there’s a long pause.

“Every day? Are you sure?”

“Positive. I’ll send over a color scheme for each day.”

“Okay. When would you like to start?”

“Tomorrow,” I reply quickly.

I will find a way to show her that I’ll fight for her. That I’m not the man she thinks I am.

Especially not when she’s with me.

I need to remind her of the Conan she brings out. The man I want to be.

Because Hallie is my future, and I can’t let this go without fighting to my last breath for her.